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Invention -

Paper is a versatile material that was invented in 105 CE in China. It started when Ts’ai Lun, a court official associated with the Imperial Court of China, created a sheet of paper using mulberry and other fibers such as fishnets, old rags, and hemp waste.

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What is paper made from? -

Paper today is made from cellulose, with trees being the main source of cellulose fiber or wood pulp. Besides wood pulp, paper can be made from various sources such as cotton, flax, esparto, straw, hemp, manilla, and jute.

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The process -

The are five stages in the process of making paper. It involves chipping, making the wood pulp, spreading the pulp, pressing it, drying it, rolling it, and cutting it into sheets.

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Name origin -

The name “paper” comes from the plant called papyrus, which grows in large quantities along the Nile River in Egypt. In ancient Egypt, fibrous layers from the papyrus stem were arranged in cross-layers. The sheet formed was then dampened, pressed, and dried. After drying, the plant's natural sap acted as an adhesive, bonding the layers together.

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Papyrus -

Although papyrus sheets are not made today, they were widely used as writing materials in ancient times, and many of these records have still survived.

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Newspaper -

Newspapers were invented by the Romans in 59 BCE. It was circulated in the Roman Empire with limitations as paper was a scarce resource during that time. Newspapers were handwritten as the printing press hadn't been invented yet.

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Books -

Most printed books use uncoated paper for the inside pages and harder, textured or sometimes glossy paper for the cover. The first books, created around 500 BCE, began as handwritten scrolls, which were later bound into the books we see today.

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Stamps -

Stamps are used to attach to mail, postcards, or packages. A stamp is government-approved evidence of prepaid postage. They are self-adhesive and come in different variations in different countries. The stamp is attached to the upper right corner of the envelope.

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Paper takeaway boxes -

Paper takeaway boxes are eco-friendly and better for the environment than plastic alternatives. Paper boxes have their pros and cons, however. Despite being biodegradable and easily recycled, the downside is that paper is not as robust and doesn't seal the food in as effectively, so it's still not as popular as plastic. 

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Board games -

Most board games we play with are made out of paper or cardboard. The first board game, known as “senet,” originated in Egypt. The game consists of ten or more pawns on a 30-square playing board. It was made out of wood.

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Toilet paper -

Toilet paper is a basic necessity in every household. Modern commercial toilet paper was invented around the late 1800s. Before that, people used leaves, grass, animal fur, coconut husks, and hay. But many countries mainly used and still use water. 

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Paper cups and holders -

Paper cups and holders are widely used around the world. They were first invented for serving tea but now can be used to serve a variety of drinks. Around 58 billion paper cups are used each year.

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Photographic paper -

Photographic paper was created for printing the images taken by our cameras. It's coated with a layer of polyethylene resin and other layers of chemicals to stop the ink from drowning the paper.

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Carbon paper -

Carbon paper is tissue coated with a pigmented substance like carbon black that creates an imprint on a second page when written on. It is mainly used for the duplication of hand-printed documents.

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Paper lamps -

Paper lamps are also known as hanging lanterns. They are used to illuminate and can be carried, hung, or mounted on stands or ceilings. 

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Sky lanterns -

A sky lantern, on the other hand, is a small hot air balloon made of paper with an opening at the bottom where you can place a candle. Simply light it, release it, and watch it fly. 

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Chinese lanterns -

Chinese lanterns are similar to hanging lanterns but come in colors like red or yellow, which are significant in Chinese culture. They are typically hung during festivals, especially the spring festival. The Chinese lantern is said to bring good luck.

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Tea bags -

American tea importer Thomas Sullivan shipped out some samples of his tea products in silk pouches in 1908. His customers put the bags straight into their cups with hot water, not realizing this wasn't Sullivan's intention. That is how the first tea bag came to be! They are now made from paper, although some luxury brands still have silk options. 

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Masking tape -

Masking tape, also known as painter’s tape, was invented in 1925 to make it easier to tear tape. Painters preferred using it to cover painted areas to ensure clean edges, as regular tape often ripped off the paint.

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Coffee filters -

A coffee filter is used to strain the brewing coffee as it passes through the grounds. It was invented by a woman named Melitta Bentz in the early 1900s in Germany.  

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Greeting cards -

A greeting card is a piece of paper folded like a book with an illustration or photo on the front side and a blank inside to fill out personal messages for the recipient. Greeting cards are used on special occasions such as Christmas, birthdays, weddings, and more.

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Piñata -

A piñata is a traditional element of a Mexican party. They are hollow objects made of papier-mache, pottery, or cloth, which are decorated and filled with candy. Kids break them using a stick while blindfolded to release the candy during celebrations. 

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Doll house -

A cardboard dollhouse can be DIYed at home using an old cardboard box. Choose a box based on your desired size, cut the flaps, and use them to build the roof and floors. Get creative by painting and designing it however you like.

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Jewelry box -

Cardboard jewelry boxes were designed as an eco-friendly option for kids to store their jewelry. These boxes are shaped like a chest of drawers and decorated with printed paper to make them look pretty.

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Jigsaw puzzle -

Jigsaw puzzles were first invented in the 18th century in England by British cartographer and engraver John Spilsbury. Spilsbury pasted a map of the world onto wood and then cut it into pieces, creating a game to help kids learn geography. Today, jigsaw puzzles are usually made from cardboard. 

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Unexpected things made out of paper -

Then there are some things you'll likely be shocked to learn can be made from paper... 

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Eco-friendly coffin -

These days you can get eco-friendly coffins made out of cardboard, for those seeking sustainable products even after death. This option has been very popular in the Nordic countries for over 30 years. These coffins do not contain any sort of metal or solvent materials and
disintegrate within a year.

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Cardboard church -

This is a temporary church that was made of cardboard after the original was destroyed in an earthquake. The church was designed and created by the Pritzker Prize-winning Toyko-based architect Shigeru Ban, who is known to specialize in cardboard architecture. This is Christchurch, New Zealand.

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Did you know? -

Paper can last at least 100 years! To preserve paper for that long, it must have a neutral or basic pH, which is known as acid-free paper. Under these conditions, it can survive anywhere from 500-1000 years depending on the quality. 

Sources:(CNET) (Britannica)(Study. com)(American Express Essentials) (Merriam- Webster) (Wikipedia) (WWF) (Times)

See also: Sustainable building materials mean a greener future

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